Brought to Life

Brought to life
Former Univar plant should be running in weeks
David Anderson
2008-02-05 00:00:00
Staff Writer
Local economic and political leaders gathered Monday in front of a factory that has lain dormant for several years, but is expected to come back to life once an area manufacturer begins building horse trailers there.

Lenoir County Economic Development Director Mark Pope announced last week that horse trailer manufacturer Double D Distributors of Pink Hill will expand its operations to Univar’s former plant on the outskirts of Kinston.

The company has established Premier
Trailer Inc. to build aluminum horse trailers at the Neuse Road facility. The operation is expected to employ 55 people.

On Monday, Pope hosted a ceremony in honor of the expansion, which Double D owners Brad and Bartley Heath and consultant Jim Yeates attended.

“For Lenoir County, it’s good to see one of these buildings put back in use,” County Commission Vice Chairman George Graham told Brad Heath, 33, and his younger brother Bartley, age 28. “We’re just so proud of you, a young man, a young team, stepping up to the plate.”

Kinston Mayor O.A. “Buddy” Ritch Jr. told the company leaders that “we are tickled to death that you are here, and we’re looking forward to a great relationship.”

Ely Perry, president of the Lenoir Committee of 100, Bill Whaley, chairman of the county’s Economic Development Board, and Bobby Merritt, director of workforce development for Lenoir Community College, also made remarks.

Yeates and the Heath brothers also made their feelings known during the ceremony.

“At some point in time, Kinston is going to be known as the home of Premier Trailer,” Yeates said.

Yeates, who Double D initially hired as a consultant for the expansion, has moved to Kinston from his home in the Savannah, Ga., area to bring the factory online.

He said that a number of renovations must be made to the 52,000 square foot facility before work can begin, such as upgrading the electric system and removing an interior wall.

Brad Heath said he expects to start building trailers in six to eight weeks, after the building is refurbished and manufacturing equipment is installed.